DC pot advocates still selling, despite police raids

As marijuana fans celebrate the cannabis holiday known as 4/20 on Friday, advocates in the nation's capital are complaining about an increase in police crackdowns on pot sales.

D.C. police made two dozen arrests and seized a “mass amount” of marijuana in January from D.C. establishments. (Courtesy D.C. police via Twitter)
(Courtesy D.C. police via Twitter)
D.C. police made two dozen arrests and seized a “mass amount” of marijuana in January from one establishment. “This definitely looks like more than the legal amount to us!” the department tweeted. (Courtesy D.C. police via Twitter)
(Courtesy D.C. police via Twitter)
D.C. police made two dozen arrests and seized a “mass amount” of marijuana in January from one establishment. “This definitely looks like more than the legal amount to us!” the department tweeted. (Courtesy D.C. police via Twitter)
(Courtesy D.C. police via Twitter)
D.C. police said they seized these products in March from marijuana vendors operating out of a restaurant in Adams Morgan in Northwest D.C. (Courtesy D.C. Police via Twitter)
(Courtesy D.C. police via Twitter)
In this Sept. 11, 2017, photo, jars of marijuana buds are displayed in Washington at a closed Ethiopian restaurant at a “gifted” marijuana event. In the so-called “District of Cannabis” it’s legal to grow and consume marijuana, but illegal to buy or sell it. The result of this unique legal grey area has spawned a thriving cottage industry of businesses using the “gifting” loophole. So far the D.C. government and police are letting it happen. (AP Photo/P. Solomon Banda)
(AP/P. Solomon Banda)
In this Sept. 11, 2017, photo, jars of marijuana buds next to edible products in Washington, at a closed Ethiopian restaurant at a “gifted” marijuana event. In the so-called “District of Cannabis” it’s legal to grow and consume marijuana, but illegal to buy or sell it. The result of this unique legal grey area has spawned a thriving cottage industry of businesses using the “gifting” loophole. So far the D.C. government and police are letting it happen. (AP Photo/P. Solomon Banda)
(AP/P. Solomon Banda)
In this Sept. 11, 2017, photo, a display of Creatos, Weed-Itz and Flavorblaster marijuana infused edibles in Washington, at a closed Ethiopian restaurant at a “gifted” marijuana event. In the so-called “District of Cannabis” it’s legal to grow and consume marijuana, but illegal to buy or sell it. The result of this unique legal grey area has spawned a thriving cottage industry of businesses using the “gifting” loophole. So far the D.C. government and police are letting it happen. (AP Photo/P. Solomon Banda)
(AP/P. Solomon Banda)
In this Sept. 11, 2017, photo, smoke pours out of a pipe that uses a hot metal “nail’’ to vaporize concentrated marijuana which is inhaled by a user in a process called “dabbing” in Washington, at a closed Ethiopian restaurant at a “gifted” marijuana event. In the so-called “District of Cannabis” it’s legal to grow and consume marijuana, but illegal to buy or sell it. The result of this unique legal grey area has spawned a thriving cottage industry of businesses using the “gifting” loophole. So far the District government and police are letting it happen. (AP Photo/P. Solomon Banda)
(AP/P. Solomon Banda)
In this Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017 photo, marijuana and a T-shirt from Duuber.com delivery company are displayed together, in Walpole, Mass. Companies like Duuber.com have been exploiting a provision in state marijuana laws that allows people to exchange up to an ounce of marijuana, so long as it’s given away or “gifted” without any money exchanged. The T-shirt was $100, but the marijuana was free. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
(AP/Steven Senne)
In this Thursday, Jan. 11, 2018 photo, marijuana from Duuber.com T-shirt delivery company rests on a sheet of paper, in Boston. Companies like Duuber.com have been exploiting a provision in state marijuana laws that allows people to exchange up to an ounce of marijuana, so long as it’s given away or “gifted” without any money exchanged. The T-shirt, not shown, was $100, but the marijuana was free. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
(AP/Steven Senne)

(1/10)

Share This Gallery:

WASHINGTON — As marijuana fans celebrate the cannabis holiday known as 4/20 on Friday, advocates in the nation’s capital are complaining about an increase in police crackdowns on pot sales, claiming they are unfair in a place where residents voted to legalize marijuana more than three years ago.

“The industry should be open to anybody who wants to participate,” argued Lisa Scott, who runs a D.C. edible cannabis company.

Marijuana vendors in D.C., such as Scott, have been operating in the face of mounting police pressure.

Possessing small amounts of pot for recreational use was made legal in 2014 under Initiative 71, but actions by Congress ensured that selling the drug remained against the law.

“Distribution of marijuana is illegal for anything of value,” said D.C. Police Chief Peter Newsham. “We’re just trying to make it very clear to folks.”

In recent months, police have been busting “giveaway” events that vendors host at various locations across the District. The vendors try to get around the prohibition on sales by selling customers a small item, such as a sticker, and then “giving” the customer marijuana as a free gift.

Related News

“The venues and the events have increased all over the city,” Scott said. “Consumers really create the demand for the events.”

Although police may have initially tolerated the events to some extent, it appears that is no longer the case.

“We have received complaints because of smoke that is coming from these parties,” Newsham said. “If we find that someone is trying to circumvent the law or if someone is distributing marijuana for something of value, then we will be making arrests.”

Police have conducted raids, taken vendors into custody and confiscated large amounts of cannabis products including dry flowers, vape cartridges and THC-infused baked goods.

Some vendors have even been hit with criminal charges of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.

“This just isn’t fair, especially to low-income people who are just trying to make a living,” said D.C. marijuana advocate Adam Eidinger. “People are taking a huge risk to sell cannabis at these events. However, a lot of these people have a completely legitimate moral right to be doing what they’re doing.”

Eidinger is lobbying for D.C. to allow legal pot sales, and he is trying to drum up support to unseat Rep. Andy Harris, the Maryland Republican known for using congressional authority to limit Initiative 71.

“The D.C. Council has been prevented from writing new laws by Andy Harris,” Eidinger said. “We need Congress to get out of the way.”

While the political debate and police raids continue, the District’s pot vendors show no sign of closing up shop.

“It is a form of economic disobedience and it’s a form of protest,” said Scott. “That’s the only way to make things happen.”

Like WTOP on Facebook and follow @WTOP on Twitter to engage in conversation about this article and others.